United News of Bangladesh

Air India has ordered a mandatory dope test for all its pilots days after a captain, found responsible for mid-air turbulence, tested positive for marijuana, multiple local media reports said Thursday. According to local television news channel NDTV, the dope test is mandatory for both Air India and Air India Express pilots. The tests will be conducted concurrently with training at the Gurugram academy, post-flight at Air India's flight briefing centers and offices, the media report said. Earlier this month, 17 people, including four cabin crew members, onboard an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi were injured after experiencing turbulence. The aircraft lost approximately 300 feet in altitude, triggering a mid-air scare among the passengers. On Wednesday, the pilot-in-command tested positive for marijuana during a confirmatory test for psychoactive substances. Reports said he had earlier tested positive in a dope test conducted immediately after the flight landed.

The Dhaka University authorities will conduct dope tests on students during admission every year in a bid to keep the campus free from drugs. The decision was taken at a syndicate meeting held at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building of the university on Tuesday evening with Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman in the chair. A committee has been formed to formulate policy in this regard with Dhaka Medical College Principal Dr Titu Miah as its convener. DU Vice Chancellor (Education) Prof ASM Maqsood Kamal said, “A committee has been formed to implement the decision taken at a syndicate meeting of the university. The committee will formulate a policy to implement the decision.” READ: 10 JCD men hurt ‘in BCL attack’ on DU campus Prof Titu said “The University itself required equipment and manpower to conduct the dope tests.” A committee is trying to work out whether the tests will be conducted at the university or at another institute, he said. The tests will be carried out during the recruitment of teachers and admission of new students in the university every year, Titu said. READ: DU asks students to provide their vaccination status